JPH08132653A - Ink sheet and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To accurately adjust the position of an optical head in a so-called laser thermal transfer type printer which melts the ink of an ink sheet by the thermal energy of a converged laser beam and transfers it to a recording sheet, and the sheet used for the printer. CONSTITUTION: An ink sheet 1 has a magnetic layer 11-4. The layer 11-4 is magnetized to a predetermined magnetized pattern. In the case of printing, the state of the polarization by Kerr effect of the reflected beam from the layer 11-4 is detected, and the position of an objective lens 8-4 for forming a laser spot on the sheet 1 in response to the polarized state is driven by an actuator 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called laser thermal transfer type printer which melts ink on an ink sheet by thermal energy of laser convergent light and transfers it to a recording sheet, and an ink sheet used in the printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called laser thermal transfer printer has been known ("HALFTONECOLOR IMAGING LA
SER DYE TRANSFR ”Mitsubishi Non Impact Printing Technolog
y'93, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-418). FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser thermal transfer printer.

As shown in FIG. 14, a recording sheet 2 is superposed on the inner side of the drum 3 and an ink sheet 1 is superposed on the outer side thereof. A DC motor 5 is connected to the drum 3, and the DC motor 5 precisely rotationally drives the drum 3 in accordance with an instruction from the controller 6 in response to a command from the personal computer 4, and the ink sheet 1 and the recording sheet 2 Are conveyed in their longitudinal direction (direction of arrow Y). An optical head 8 is provided at a position facing the drum 3. The optical head 8 is supported by the moving stage 9. The moving stage 9 is equipped with a stepping motor (not shown) that moves the optical head 8 in the width direction of the ink sheet 1 (direction of arrow X). The stepping motor is driven by a stepping motor instructed by the controller 6. Driven by the circuit 10. A semiconductor laser is incorporated in the optical head 8,
The semiconductor laser is L, which is instructed by the controller 6.
It is driven by the D driver 7.

FIG. 15 is an internal structural diagram of the optical head shown in a block in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 8-1 is converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 8-2, and then the semiconductor laser 8-1.
Since the laser beam emitted from the laser beam has an elliptical beam, it is converted into a circular beam by the shaping prism 8-3 and is condensed by the objective lens 8-4.
The ink sheet 1 is irradiated with the focused light spot.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a sectional structure of an ink sheet. The ink sheet 1 has a structure in which a light absorbing layer 1-2 and an ink layer 1-3 are laminated on a transparent base film 1-1. Laser light is the base film 1
It is incident on the ink sheet 1 from the -1 side, is absorbed by the light absorbing layer 1-2, is converted into heat energy, and melts the ink layer at that point. The recording sheet 2 is superposed on the ink layer 1-3 side of the ink sheet 1, and the melted ink of the ink layer 1-3 is transferred to the recording sheet 2. In this way, printing or image formation is performed on the recording sheet 2.

In this laser thermal transfer type printer, the size of one dot of the printed image is set to about the focused spot diameter.
For example, the size can be reduced to about 10 μm, and high-definition printing and images can be obtained.

[0007]

However, as the spot diameter is made smaller in order to obtain high-definition printing and images, the uneven rotation of the drum is suppressed and the focused spot is irradiated on the ink sheet 1 at an extremely accurate position. However, there is a problem that it is difficult to control the irradiation position of the focused spot.

Further, since this laser thermal transfer printer is a system for converting the light energy of laser light into thermal energy to melt the ink, the printing speed is higher than that of a thermal head type printer using a heating resistor. It has the disadvantage of being extremely slow. In order to improve this inconvenience, it is conceivable to arrange a plurality of optical heads at positions distant from each other in the direction of arrow X in FIG. However, when using a plurality of optical heads, it is necessary to precisely align the irradiation positions of the plurality of laser beams emitted from the plurality of optical heads with each other, and thus it is possible to control the irradiation position as compared with the case where there is only one optical head. However, there is a problem that it is much more difficult.

In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a laser thermal transfer printer capable of controlling the position of an optical head with high accuracy, and an ink sheet used in the printer.

[0010]

The ink sheet of the present invention for achieving the above object is an ink sheet having an ink layer containing an ink which is melted by heat obtained by absorbing irradiated light, (1) It is characterized by having a magnetic layer that reflects a part of the irradiated light by changing the polarization direction according to the magnetization.
Here, (6-1) magnetization of the ink sheet in a pattern in which at least a part of the first region in the width direction of the ink sheet in the first region is alternately or cyclically changed in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet. Is preferably provided. Also,
(6-2) The magnetic layer in the second region of a part of the ink sheet in the width direction of the ink sheet is magnetized in a pattern that alternately or cyclically changes in the width direction of the ink sheet. Is also a preferred embodiment.

Further, the printer of the present invention which achieves the above-mentioned object is configured such that an ink layer containing an ink which is melted by heat obtained by absorbing irradiated light and a part of the irradiated light are subjected to magnetization. And a magnetic layer that changes the direction of polarization to reflect the magnetic layer, and at least part of the ink sheet in the width direction of the ink sheet is first.
An ink sheet in which a magnetic layer in a region is magnetized in a pattern that alternately or cyclically changes in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet, a recording sheet is superposed on the ink sheet, and the ink sheet is irradiated with light. A printer that transfers ink to the recording sheet by: (2) an optical head that irradiates the ink sheet with light while moving in the width direction of the ink sheet relative to the ink sheet; A sensor that receives the reflected light from the ink sheet and detects the polarization state of the reflected light. (4) According to the polarization state of the reflected light detected by the sensor, the light emitted from the optical head of the ink sheet It is characterized by having an actuator for adjusting the irradiation position in the longitudinal direction.

Here, the printer of the present invention comprises (5) a plurality of sets of the optical head and the actuator corresponding to the optical head, wherein the actuator is
The irradiation position of the light emitted from the optical head corresponding to the actuator in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet may be adjusted, or the printer of the present invention described above (6) corresponds to one actuator. A plurality of optical heads may be provided, and an actuator corresponding to the plurality of optical heads may adjust the irradiation position of the plurality of lights emitted from the plurality of optical heads in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet.

Further, the ink sheet has the first region, and a part of the magnetic material layer in the width direction of the ink sheet is alternately or cyclically arranged in the width direction of the ink sheet. The printer has a second area magnetized in a changing pattern, wherein the printer is: (7) The second area of the ink sheet is moved while moving in the width direction of the ink sheet relative to the ink sheet.
Second optical head for irradiating the area with light (8) Second sensor for receiving reflected light from the second area of the ink sheet and detecting the polarization state of the reflected light (9) Second sensor And a recognition unit for recognizing the position of the second optical head in the width direction of the ink sheet relative to the ink sheet, according to the polarization state of the reflected light detected by. preferable.

[0014]

Since the ink sheet of the present invention has the magnetic layer as described in (1) above, the magnetic layer is magnetized as in (6-1) above, or the magnetic layer in (6-
By magnetizing as in 1) and the above (6-2) and combining with the printer of the present invention, the position of the optical head is controlled with extremely high precision, and a system for performing higher-definition printing and image formation is provided. Composed.

Further, the printer of the present invention is used in combination with the ink sheet of the present invention, and the printer of the above (2) is used.
When the ink sheet is irradiated with light from the optical head, the so-called Kerr effect changes the polarization state of the reflected light according to the state of magnetization of the magnetic layer of the ink sheet at the position irradiated with light. The printer of the present invention is based on the above (6-1).
14 is used, the polarization state of the reflected light is detected by the sensor in (3) above, and the actuator in (4) detects the polarization state of the reflected light in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet of the optical head (see FIG. 14). The position of the light spot emitted from the optical head and irradiated on the ink sheet is adjusted, and high-definition printing and image formation are performed.

If a plurality of optical heads are provided and the positions of the plurality of optical heads are controlled by the actuators corresponding to the respective optical heads, as in the above (5), high-definition printing and images can be performed. At the same time as the formation, the plurality of optical heads perform high-speed printing and image formation. Further, instead of providing each of the plurality of optical heads with one actuator, by adjusting the relative positions of the plurality of optical heads in advance, one actuator can provide a plurality of optical heads as described in (6) above. May control the position of.

In the printer of the present invention, an ink sheet satisfying the requirement (6-2) above is used in addition to the requirement (6-1) above, and in addition to the requirements (2) to (4) above. When the requirements of (7) to (9) above are met, when the ink sheet or recording sheet moves or meanders in the width direction, it is recognized by the recognition means of (9) and based on the recognition result. The optical head can be moved by following it, or the light irradiation timing by the optical head can be controlled, and the irradiation position of the light spot can be adjusted in the width direction as well, enabling higher-definition printing and image formation. Becomes

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a printer of the present invention. The same elements as those of the conventional printer shown in FIG. 14 are designated by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 14, and different points will be described.

The printer shown in FIG. 1 includes a moving stage 9
, A plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ..., 8n are arranged at intervals in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 1. The plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ...
The relative position in the width direction (X direction) of 8n is adjusted at the stage of initial adjustment, and the plurality of optical heads 81, 82,
, 8n are moved in the width direction (X direction) by a stepping motor (not shown) driven by the stepping motor drive circuit 10 while keeping the relative interval constant.
Further, the semiconductor laser 8-1 (see FIG. 15) provided in each of the plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ...
.., 7n are driven by the LD drivers 71, 72, ..., 7n, whereby the optical heads 81, 82 ,.
The area 1, the area 2, ..., The area n on the ink sheet 1 are respectively in charge of light irradiation. Further, each objective lens 8-4 constituting the plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ..., 8n.
(Refer to FIG. 15) are the actuators 111, 112,
..., fixed at 11n. The actuators 111, 112, ..., 11n correspond to the corresponding optical heads 8.
The actuator driving circuits 121, 1 for which the objective lenses 1, 82, ...
, ..., 12n to finely move the ink sheet 1 in the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow Y) to finely adjust the irradiation position of the laser spot on the ink sheet 1 in the direction Y.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sectional structure of an embodiment of the ink sheet of the present invention and an objective lens portion for one optical head which constitutes the printer shown in FIG. The ink sheet 1 shown in FIG. 2 includes a base film 1-1, a light absorbing layer 1-2, and an ink layer 1-3 similar to the conventional ink sheet shown in FIG. The magnetic layer 11-4 is formed between the absorption layer 1-2 and the absorption layer 1-2.
The magnetic layer 11-4 may also serve as the light absorption layer 11-2. The magnetic layer 11-4 is magnetized to have a predetermined magnetization pattern. This magnetization pattern will be described later.

The laser light emitted from the objective lens 8-4 is condensed and applied to the ink sheet 1. As described above, the laser light is absorbed by the light absorption layer 11-2 and converted into heat energy. , The ink layer 11 of the irradiation spot
-3 is melted, and the melted ink is transferred to the recording sheet 2 superposed on the ink sheet 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and printing and image formation are performed. At the same time, a part (for example, about 10%) of the laser light emitted from the objective lens 8-4 is reflected by the magnetic layer 11-4, passes through the objective lens 8-4 again, and the Kerr effect detection optical system 8- It is incident on 20.
It is known that the reflected light from the magnetic layer 11-4 has a phenomenon called a Kerr effect in which the polarization direction rotates depending on the state of magnetization of the reflection point, and the Kerr effect detection optical system 8-20. Then, the polarization state of this reflected light is detected. The detection result is input to the controller 6 shown in FIG. 1, and the controller 6 drives the actuator drive circuit 12 based on the detection result. However, this Figure 2
Then, the intervention of the controller 6 is omitted.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a magnetization pattern of an embodiment of the ink sheet of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ink sheet, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion indicated by a circle A in FIG. Is. In FIG. 3, the respective optical heads 81, 82, ..., 8n which share the light irradiation of the region 1, the region 2 ,.
, 13n are shown which are irradiated from the ink sheet and are irradiated onto the ink sheet 1. , 13n are the light spots 131a, 132, ...
, 13na as initial positions, a plurality of optical heads 81, 8 are driven by a stepping motor (not shown) driven by the stepping heater drive circuit 10 shown in FIG.
, ..., 8n are simultaneously moved to the right side shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and accordingly, the respective light spots 131, 132 ,.
n also moves to the right in FIG. 3, and reaches the positions of the respective light spots 131b, 132b, ..., 13nb shown by the broken lines in FIG. Then, at that timing, the DC motor 5 shown in FIG. 1 causes the drum 3 to move the ink sheet 1 and the recording sheet 2 by one step in the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow Y), whereby each of the light spots 131, 132 is moved. ，… ，
13n is each of the light spots 131c and 132 shown in FIG.
Move to the positions of c, ..., 13nc. Then, the optical heads 81, 82, ..., 8n are moved to the left in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the respective light spots 131, 132 ,.
Move on the line to the left in FIG.

Here, the light spots 131, 132, ...
The spot diameter of 13n is, for example, 10 μm, and in the region 1, the magnetized portion (hatched portion) and the non-magnetized portion are repeated every other spot in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 1. Areas 2 to n are magnetized in a constant band shape in the width direction (arrow X direction) of the ink sheet 1 and are alternately changed every 5 μm in the longitudinal direction (arrow Y direction) of the ink sheet 1. It is magnetized according to the magnetization pattern. In FIG. 5, the magnetization directions of the magnetic layers in the regions 2 to n are indicated by arrows.

In FIG. 3, the magnetization pattern is shown only for the m line and the m + 1 line in order to avoid complication of the drawing, but this magnetization pattern is repeated over the entire surface of the ink sheet 1. . 6 is shown in FIG.
1 of a plurality of optical heads provided in the printer shown in
FIG. 4 is an internal structure diagram of two optical heads (excluding an optical head that forms a light spot for illuminating a region 1 shown in FIG. 3). This optical head is composed of a spot forming optical system having a structure similar to that of the conventional optical head shown in FIG. 15 and a Kerr effect detecting optical system shown by a block in FIG. However, FIG.
In the spot forming optical system of the optical head shown in FIG.
And a beam splitter 8-5.

The reflected light reflected by the magnetic layer 1-4 (see FIG. 2) of the ink sheet 1 passes through the objective lens 8-4, is reflected by the beam splitter 8-5, and enters the Kerr effect detection optical system. To do. The reflected light that has entered the Kerr effect detection optical system has a polarization direction of 45 ° due to the half-wave plate 8-6.
The components are tilted and separated into two components (s-polarized light and p-polarized light) whose polarization directions are orthogonal to each other by the polarization beam splitter 8-7, and are condensed by respective condenser lenses 8-8 and 8-9, respectively, and each sensor. The light amount is detected at 8-10 and 8-11. The output signals of the sensors 8-10 and 8-11 are input to the differential amplifier 8-12, and the tracking error signal S _ERR representing the difference between the output signals is generated. The tracking error signal S _ERR is input to the actuator drive circuit 12 via the controller 6 (not shown in FIG. 6) shown in FIG. The actuator drive circuit 12 outputs the actuator drive current I _ACT based on the tracking error signal S _ERR to drive the actuator 8-4, and determines the position of the objective lens 8-4, that is, the position of the light spot on the ink sheet 1. adjust.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the feedback control system shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the polarization direction of the reflected light from the ink sheet 1, and FIG. 9 is a tracking error signal S.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the level of _ERR , and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the actuator drive current I _ACT . In FIG. 7, the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet 1 (arrow Y direction) is drawn so as to be the left-right direction of FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, when light is emitted from the objective lens 8-4 and a light spot is irradiated on the point a on the ink sheet 1, the area of the point a is magnetized in one direction. 8 and therefore the reflected light is
As shown in (a), the light is strongly polarized in one direction. Further, when a light spot is irradiated on a point c on the ink sheet 1 on the region magnetized in the other direction, the reflected light is a light strongly polarized in the other direction as shown in FIG. 8C. Become. On the other hand, when a light spot is applied to a boundary point b between a region magnetized in one direction and a region magnetized in the other direction on the ink sheet 1, the reflected light is reflected by the light spot shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the polarized light in both directions has the same intensity. Therefore, the reflected light from the ink sheet 1 is separated into each polarization component by the polarization beam splitter 8-7,
When the light intensity of each polarization component is detected by each of the sensors 8-10 and 8-11 and is input to the differential amplifier 8-12, as shown in FIG. A tracking error signal S _ERR having a level corresponding to the spot irradiation position (points a, b, c) is output. Based on the tracking error signal S _ERR , the actuator drive circuit 12 drives the actuator drive current so as to cancel the position error of the objective lens 8-4 in the Y direction so that the light spot always illuminates the point b shown in FIG. 7. I _ACT is Actuator 1
1 to the actuator 11 and the objective lens 8-4
The position of the objective lens 8-4 in the longitudinal direction (arrow Y direction) of the ink sheet 1 is adjusted so that the light spot emitted from the and radiated on the ink sheet 1 always illuminates the point b.

In this way, in the plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ..., 8n constituting the printer shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of optical heads 81, 82 ,. Of the optical heads 8 so that the light spots of the same are accurately positioned on the same line as shown in FIG.
, 8n constituting the objective lens 8-4 is controlled in position. Therefore, a plurality of optical heads 81, 8
Even if 2, ..., 8n are provided, positional deviation is prevented from occurring in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet 1 (direction of arrow Y).

The above is the optical head 8 for forming the light spot for irradiating the areas 2 to n of the ink sheet 1 shown in FIG.
2, ..., 8n, and then an optical head that forms a light spot for irradiating the region 1 of the ink sheet 1 will be described. The optical head 81 corresponding to this area 1 is not in charge of printing or image formation on the recording sheet 2. Therefore, regarding this area 1, the ink layer 1 is formed on the ink sheet 1.
1-3 may not be provided. Alternatively, the recording sheet 2 may be overlapped only with the area 2 to the area n of the ink sheet 1.

The structure of the optical head 81 corresponding to the region 1 is basically the same as the structure of the optical heads 82, ..., 8n corresponding to the other regions 2 to n shown in FIG. Actuator drive circuit 1 corresponding to this optical head 8-1
2 sends the actuator drive current I _ACT to the actuator 11 corresponding to the optical head 81 based on the tracking error signal S _ERR output from the differential amplifier 8-12 of the optical head 82 corresponding to the adjacent area 2. Then, the position of the objective lens 8-4 forming the optical head 81 is adjusted. That is, the objective lens 8-of the optical head 81
4 is controlled in the same manner as the objective lens 8-4 of the adjacent optical head 82. Then, the optical head 8 corresponding to the area 1
The output of the differential amplifier 8-12 of No. 1 is used for other purposes described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the area 1 has a magnetization pattern in which the presence / absence of magnetization repeats in units of one spot in the width direction of the ink sheet 1 (direction of arrow X), and therefore corresponds to this area 1. Differential amplifier 8-1 of optical head 81
2 outputs a signal whose level changes in a pulse manner for each spot as the optical head 81 moves in the width direction of the ink sheet 1 (direction of arrow X). Therefore, by counting the pulses of this signal, the optical head 8
1 is recognized in the lateral direction relative to the ink sheet 1, and the light spot 131 is the light spot 1 shown in FIG.
When the position of 31b is reached, that is, at the same time, the light spots 132, ...
The control for recognizing the time when the position of 13 nb is reached and moving to the printing of the next line is performed. That is, at that time, the drum 3 is rotationally driven by one step. Further, by monitoring the output of the differential amplifier 8-12 corresponding to the area 1 even during the printing of one line, the relative position between the ink sheet 1 and the optical head 81 can be known. Even if the ink sheet 1 and the recording sheet 2 overlap and meander in the width direction of the ink sheet 1, printing and image formation are performed at positions following the meandering.

In this way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, since the plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ..., 8n are provided,
High-speed printing and image formation are possible, and in addition, the light spot is controlled so as to irradiate the accurate position on the ink sheet in both the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the ink sheet 1, and high-definition printing and image formation are performed. Be done. FIG.
FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment of the printer of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a magnetization pattern of an example of the ink sheet of the present invention used in the printer shown in FIG. 11. The same elements as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and only different points will be described.

The objective lens 8-4 (see FIG. 2) of the plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ..., 8n provided in the printer shown in FIG. 11 is controlled by one actuator 11.
In the ink sheet 1 used in this printer, as shown in FIG. 12, a magnetization pattern is formed only in a region 1 and regions 2 and n at both ends of regions 2 to n. Therefore, the Kerr effect detection optical system is provided only in the optical heads 81, 82, and 8n corresponding to these three regions 1, 2, and n, and the other optical heads are configured only by the spot forming optical system. The actuator 11 is driven by the actuator drive circuit 12, and the actuator drive circuit 12 passes through the controller 6 and each differential amplifier 8-12 of the two optical heads 82 corresponding to the two regions 2 and n. The average value of the two tracking error signals S _ERR output from is input, and the actuator drive circuit 12 generates an actuator drive current I _ACT for driving the actuator 11 based on the input average value. In this way, the plurality of optical heads 81, 82, ...
One actuator 11 may be provided for 8n.

In each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, the ink sheet 1 is formed with the region 1 having a magnetization pattern which is repeated in the width direction. When the meandering of the ink sheet 1 is suppressed to a sufficiently low level by devising the transport system (for example, the drum 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 11), the magnetization pattern of this area 1 is unnecessary and the ink sheet 1 may be used for printing and image formation in the entire width direction.

Next, the tracking precision of the light spot according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing gain characteristics of the servo system. The servo characteristics of the tracking actuator for driving the compact disk (CD) optical head are as shown in Graph A. According to this actuator, the disk eccentricity is ± 25 μm (graph B in FIG. 13) is ± 0.05 μm. It is possible to follow up with the error of. In the case of a printer, the dot diameter is 10μ at 2,000 dpi.
Graph A shows that the positional error of the light spot with respect to the ink sheet 1 is about ± 5 μm (graph D in FIG. 13) and the error is reduced to ± 0.5 μm (5% of the spot diameter) or less. It can be seen that it is possible with a sufficient margin by using the actuator of the characteristics.
Further, it is possible to realize a positioning error (± 0.1 μm) of 5% or less of the spot diameter even in high definition of about 10,000 dpi (dot diameter 1 μm, positioning error ± 0.1 μm).

Further, in the case of a fineness of about 2,000 dpi or less, one tracking actuator may drive two or more optical heads. That is, when there are n optical heads as shown in FIG. 11, the n optical heads 81, 82, ...
It can also be configured to be driven by. In this case, the required number of actuators and actuator drive circuits can be reduced even if the number of optical heads is increased.

At this time, there is a concern that the positioning accuracy may be deteriorated due to the increase in the weight of the actuator. However, if one actuator drives five or less optical heads, ± 0.5 μ
Positioning accuracy of about m (error required at 2,000 dpi) can be maintained. That is, the intersection frequency required for the characteristics of the optical head servo is 12 kHz.
The resonance frequency required for the actuator at this time is about 20 kHz. Further, it is understood that the intersection frequency required for the printer servo characteristic is 80 Hz, and the resonance frequency of the actuator at this time is about 800 Hz or more (graph D in FIG. 13). Here, the resonance frequency is inversely proportional to the square root of weight. That is, the resonance frequency changes from 20 kHz to 800 Hz (1/2
5), even if the weight of the printer actuator is about 5 times that of the optical head actuator, ± 0.
It is possible to achieve a positioning accuracy of about 5 μm.

The ink sheet in each of the above-mentioned embodiments has a magnetization pattern which is alternately repeated in the width direction or the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet, but it does not have to be "alternating", for example, in one direction. It may have a magnetization pattern in which three or more modes of magnetization are repeated "cyclically", such as repeating three modes of magnetization in one direction, magnetization in another direction, and no magnetization.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Each pixel can be positioned with high precision by feedback control using the magnetic layer of the ink sheet, and a high-definition printer system of, for example, 2,000 dpi or more can be realized. Moreover, according to the present invention, a plurality of optical heads are provided, and high-speed printing and image formation can be performed while maintaining high-definition printing and image formation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of an embodiment of an ink sheet of the present invention and an objective lens portion for one optical head which constitutes the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a magnetization pattern of an example of the ink sheet of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ink sheet.

5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion indicated by a circle A in FIG.

6 is an internal structural diagram of one optical head of a plurality of optical heads provided in the printer shown in FIG.

7 is an explanatory diagram of a feedback control system shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a polarization direction of reflected light from an ink sheet.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the level of a tracking error signal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an actuator drive current.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment of the printer of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a magnetization pattern of an example of the ink sheet of the present invention used in the printer shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing gain characteristics of a servo system.

FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser thermal transfer printer.

15 is an internal structural diagram of the optical head shown by a block in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of an ink sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Ink Sheet 1-1 Base Film 1-2 Light Absorption Layer 1-3 Ink Layer 1-4 Magnetic Layer 2 Recording Sheet 3 Drum 8, 81, 82, ..., 8n Optical Head 8-4 Objective Lens 8-20 Kerr Effect Detection optical system 11, 111, 112, ..., 11n Actuator 12, 121, 122, ..., 12n Actuator drive circuit

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Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An ink sheet having an ink layer containing an ink melted by heat obtained by absorbing irradiated light, wherein a part of the irradiated light is changed in polarization direction according to magnetization. An ink sheet having a magnetic layer that reflects light. 2. The magnetic layer in at least a part of a first region of the ink sheet in the width direction of the ink sheet is magnetized in a pattern that alternately or cyclically changes in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet. The ink sheet according to claim 1, wherein 3. The magnetic layer in a second region of a part of the ink sheet in the width direction of the ink sheet is magnetized in a pattern that alternately or cyclically changes in the width direction of the ink sheet. The ink sheet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. An ink layer containing an ink that is melted by heat obtained by absorbing irradiated light, and magnetism that reflects a part of the irradiated light by changing the polarization direction according to the magnetization. An ink sheet having a layer, wherein the magnetic layer in at least a first region of at least a part of the ink sheet in the width direction of the ink sheet changes alternately or cyclically in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet. A printer that uses an ink sheet magnetized in a pattern, a recording sheet is superposed on the ink sheet, and the ink is transferred to the recording sheet by irradiating the ink sheet with light. An optical head that irradiates the ink sheet with light while moving in the width direction of the ink sheet, and a polarization state of the reflected light by receiving the reflected light from the ink sheet. A sensor for detecting, and an actuator for adjusting the irradiation position of the light emitted from the optical head in the longitudinal direction of the ink sheet according to the polarization state of the reflected light detected by the sensor, Characteristic printer. 5. A plurality of sets of the optical head and the actuator corresponding to the optical head are provided, and the actuator has a longitudinal direction of the ink sheet of light emitted from the optical head corresponding to the actuator. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the irradiation position in the direction is adjusted. 6. A plurality of the optical heads corresponding to one of the actuators are provided, and the actuators corresponding to the plurality of the optical heads of the ink sheet of a plurality of lights emitted from the plurality of optical heads. The printer according to claim 4, wherein the irradiation position in the longitudinal direction is adjusted. 7. The ink sheet has the first region and a part of the magnetic sheet in the width direction of the ink sheet is alternately or cyclically arranged in the width direction of the ink sheet. A second region formed by magnetizing in a pattern that changes to the ink sheet, wherein the printer moves in the width direction of the ink sheet relative to the ink sheet while moving the ink in the second region of the ink sheet. A second optical head that irradiates light, a second sensor that receives reflected light from the second region of the ink sheet and detects a polarization state of the reflected light, and a second sensor that detects the polarized state of the reflected light. And a recognition unit for recognizing the position of the second optical head in the width direction of the ink sheet relative to the ink sheet according to the polarization state of the reflected light. Item 4 Printer.